Display unit for counters and the like



NOV. 21, 1933. M EN 1,936,458

DISPLAY UNIT FOR COUNTERS AND THE LIKE Filed June 7, 1932 2 SheetsSheet l l7. J/Yazaem,

a flamwh flllorney Inventor Nov. 21, 1933. M. J. MATSEN DISPLAY UNIT FOR COUNTERS AND THE LIKE Filed June 7, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Inventor Patented Nov. 21, 1933 nsist arr DISPLAY UNIT FOR COUNTERS AND THE LIKE Marcus J. Matsen, Chicago, Ill.

' Application June 7, 1

4 Claims.

This invention relates to display units for counters, tables, and the like, the general object of the invention being to provide means whereby compartments of various sizes can be easily and quickly formed on the top of the counter or the like in the minimum amount of time with the least possible effort and Without the.

use of tools or fastening means.

lhis invention also consists in certain other features of construction and in the combination and arrangement oi the several parts to be hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and specifically pointed out in the appended claims.

In describing the invention in detail, reference will be had to the accompanying drawings wherein like characters denote like or corresponding parts throughout the several views, and in which:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary top plan view of the counter or the like showing the invention thereon.

Fig. 2 is a section on line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary side View of one of the master dividers.

Fig. i is a face View of one of the end members.

Fig. 5 is a similar view of one of the cross dividers.

Fig. 6 is a perspective end view of one of the end members.

Fig. 7 is an end View of one of the cross dividers showing a sign holder thereon.

8 is a fragmentary perspective view of one of the channel-shaped cover members for the mast-er divider.

In these views, the letter A indicates the master dividers, each of which is formed of metal or the like and is of U-shape in cross section, with its bight 1 flat and resting on the top of the counter 33 or other supporting surface, as shown in 2. ihe limbs of the divider are formed with the aligned slots 2 which pass through the upper edges of said limbs. These master dividers are placed on the supporting surface in parallel relation as shown in Fig. 1 and the end pieces C are placed between their ends. Each end piece has its upper edge portion bent at right angles on the line 3 to form the flange i which extends outwardly, as shown in Fig. 1, so as to give a finish to the complete unit, as shown in 1, and to hide the connecting means.

Such connecting means consists of a vertically arranged angle-shaped tongue 5 at each 932. Serial No; 615,931

end of each end member, the tongue being connected to the end member by a neck portion 6, the upper end of which is flush with the top end of the tongue. These tongues'of course, have their neck portions 6 passing through the slots 2 with the tongues engaging portions of the inner faces of the limbs of the members A as shown in Fig. 2. Thus the end members not only actto close the spaces formed bythe members A, but also interlock the members together.

The spaces between'the master dividers are divided intocompartments of desired sizes by the cross dividers'D which are formed with tongues 5 at their ends of the same shape as the tongues above described. These tongues of course engage the slots 2 in the intermediate portions of the master dividers and by providing a plurality of these slots, the compartments may be made of various sizes.

A tab 7 is formed on the upper edge of the member D and this part is bent at an incline as shown in Fig. 7 and a card holder 8 is secured to this part in any desired manner for holding price or other data cards. The upper ends of the master dividers are covered by the channelshaped members 9 and the upper ends of the tongues are so spaced from the upper edges of the members C and D as to permitthe cover members 9 to fit snugly over the upper portions of the master dividers as shown in Fig. 2.

From the foregoing it will be seen that l have provided simple means for forming compartments on a supporting member such as a counter, table or the like without requiring the use of tools and without requiring fastener means for fastening 9 the parts to said supporting member. The compartment can be made in various sizes and the units in the same can be made of various sizes and said units can be added to or decreased in size as desired.

It is'thought from the foregoing description that the advantages and novel features of the invention will be readily apparent.

It is to be understood that changes may be made in the construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts provided that such changes fall within the scope of the appended. claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new is:--

1. Means for forming a display device on a counter or tabl top comprising a number of parallel members each having a narrow base part for resting on said top and each member having vertically arranged slots therein, some of the slots 110 being arranged adjacent the ends of the member and the other slots in intermediate parts of the member, end pieces having tongues at their ends for engaging the slots adjacent the ends of the members for connecting the ends of said members together in spaced relation and for closing the ends of the spaces between the members, and cross dividers each having a tongue at each end thereof, said last-mentioned tongues engaging certain of the intermediate slots in a pair of the parallel members.

2. Means for forming a display unit on the top of a counter or the like comprising a nmnber of parallel members each of U-shape in cross section with its bight flat and resting on a part of the top, each member having vertically arranged slots in the upper portions of its limbs, some of the slots being located adjacent the ends of the member and the other slots in intermediate parts of said member, end pieces for closing the ends of the spaces formed by the parallel members, each end piece having a tongue at each end thereof for engaging an end slot in a parallel member, and cross dividers each having atongue at each end thereof, said last-mentioned tongues engaging certain of the intermediate slots in the parallel members.

3. Means for forming a display unit on the top of a counter or the like comprising a number of parallel members each of Ueshape in cross section with its bight flat and resting on a part of the top, each member having vertically arranged slots in the upper portions of its limbs, some of the slots being located adjacent the ends of the member and the other slots in intermediate parts of said member, end pieces for closing the ends of the spaces formed by the parallel members, each end piece having a tongue at each end thereof for engaging an end slot in a parallel member, cross dividers each having a tongue at each end thereof, said last-mentioned tongues engaging certain of the intermediate slots in the parallel members, and each end piece having a horizontal outwardly extending flange at its upper edge.

4. Means for forming a display unit for the top of a counter or the like comprising a number of parallel members each of U-shape in cross section with its bight flat and resting on a part of the top, each member having vertically arranged slots in the upper portions of its limbs, some of the slots being arranged adjacent the ends of the member and the other slots in intermediate parts of said member, end pieces for closing the ends of the spaces formed by the parallel members, each end piece having a tongue at each end thereof for engaging an end slot in a parallel member, cross dividers each having a tongue at each end thereof, said last-mentioned tongues engaging certain of the intermediate slots in the parallel members, each tongue being formed of a neck and a vertically elongated part connected with the neck and extending at right angles from the neck.

MARCUS J. MATSEN. 

